1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow laborer,2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,6 that the fellowship of your faith may become active in the full true knowledge of every good thing in you in Christ Jesus.7 For we have great joy and encouragement in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to order you to do what is fitting,9 yet for loves sake I rather appeal to you; being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my bonds,11 who once was worthless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.12 I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my bonds of the gospel.14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but willingly.15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave; a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.18 And if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay; not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
1 Poul, the boundun of Crist Jhesu, and Timothe, brother, to Filemon, bilouyd, and oure helpere, and to Appia,2 most dere sister, and to Archip, oure euene kniyt, and to the chirche that is in thin hous,3 grace be to you, and pees of God oure fader, and of the Lord Jhesu Crist.4 I do thankingis to my God, euere more makinge mynde of thee in my preieris,5 heringe thi charite and feith, that thou hast in the Lord Jhesu, and to alle hooli men,6 that the comynyng of thi feith be maad opyn, in knowing of al good thing in Crist Jhesu.7 And Y hadde greet ioye and coumfort in thi charite, for the entrailis of hooli men restiden bi thee, brother.8 For which thing Y hauynge myche trist in Crist Jhesu, to comaunde to thee that that perteyneth to profit;9 but Y biseche more for charite, sithen thou art siche as the elde Poul, and now the boundun of Jhesu Crist.10 Y biseche thee for my sone Onesyme, whom Y in boondis bigat,11 which sumtyme was vnprofitable to thee, but now profitable bothe to thee and to me; whom Y sente ayen to thee.12 And resseyue thou hym as myn entrailis;13 whom Y wolde withholde with me, that he schulde serue for thee to me in boondis of the gospel;14 but with out thi counseil Y wolde not do ony thing, that thi good schulde not be as of nede, but wilful.15 For perauenture therfor he departide fro thee for a tyme, that thou schuldist resseyue hym with outen ende;16 now not as a seruaunt, but for a seruaunt a most dere brother, most to me; and how myche more to thee, bothe in fleisch and in the Lord?17 Therfor if thou hast me a felowe, resseyue hym as me; for if he hath ony thing anoied thee,18 ethir owith, arette thou this thing to me.19 Y Poul wroot with myn hoond, Y schal yelde; that Y seie not to thee, that also thou owist to me thi silf.20 So, brothir, Y schal vse thee in the Lord; fille thou myn entrails in Crist.21 Y tristnynge of thin obedience wroot to thee, witynge that thou schalt do ouer that that Y seie.22 Also make thou redi to me an hous to dwelle in; for Y hope that bi youre preyeris Y schal be youun to you.23 Epafras, prisoner with me in Crist Jhesu,24 greetith thee wel, and Mark, Aristark, Demas, Lucas, myn helperis.25 The grace of oure Lord Jhesu Crist be with youre spirit. Amen.